KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah consumer group has welcomed the Transport Ministry’s move to step in to help reduce the cost of airline tickets by 30% during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season.

       Sabah West Coast Smart Consumer Association president David Chan said the move was necessary as many people couldn’t afford to pay high prices for flights to their hometowns either in Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah.

       “They just cannot afford high airline ticket fares for themselves and their families with the current return airfares costing over RM2,000 for flights between Sabah and the peninsula.

       “Capping the prices will help many families and students travelling home during this peak season,” he said yesterday.

       Chan said Malaysians have begun travelling again after the country’s borders were re-opened on April 1.

       He also said he hopes the country’s airlines will take further steps to cap their return ticket prices at the RM600 range to make it affordable for families and students to travel home to celebrate Hari Raya and Pesta Kaamatan.

       He added that air travel was the only mode of transport between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.

       Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Datuk Winston Liaw also called for a ceiling price to be set for flight tickets.

       “In terms of tourism, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) should set a ceiling price for tickets and airlines will adjust their fares by mounting extra flights to help lower the prices.

       “A ceiling price will also allow international tour operators to work on the same prices as the basis for their packages for tourists coming to Sabah,” he added.

       Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines said it will have 20 additional flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sandakan, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu during the Hari Raya peak travel period from April 28 to May 8 to accommodate the domestic travel surge.

       A total of 7,000 additional seats will be provided with the increased frequency while fares will be adjusted downwards, it said in a statement.

       In conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Malaysia Airlines will also be offering up to 20% off airfares to all domestic destinations for bookings from April 19 to 27 for immediate travel up to July 31.

       Flights from Kuala Lumpur will begin as low as RM139 to Peninsular Malaysia destinations, from RM209 to Miri, Bintulu, Kuching, Sibu, Sandakan, and from RM262 to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Labuan.

       Malaysia Airlines Group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said it was not Malaysia Airlines’ intention to drive up air fares, especially in the festive period.

       “Airlines globally set the price of flight tickets dynamically, subject to demand and supply and based on the date, time and availability of seats within a specific time frame.

       “Fares will also be adjusted with passengers’ willingness to pay due to peak and seasonal trends as well as competitiveness against other airlines,” he added.